Established in 1997, Carter's Academy of Self-Defense provides top quality instruction in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Youth Martial Arts (Gracie Bullyproof), Women's Self-Defense, Aikido and Law Enforcement Defensive Tactics. Our owner and head instructor, John Carter, has 36 years of martial arts experience, is a 5th Degree Black-Belt in Nihon Goshin Aikido, a Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Level 3 Instructor and a Gracie Survival Tactics Instructor. He is also a Certified Women Empowered Instructor and is certified to teach the Nationally Recognized Gracie Bullyproof Program.  After graduating from The University of South Carolina, he began teaching Aikido, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Karate and Women's Self-Defense in Lexington, Irmo, Chapin and Columbia. Today, our headquarters academy is Lexington, South Carolina's Level 3 Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Center authorized by the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Headquarters Academy in Torrance, California and is also one of the largest Nihon Goshin Aikido Training Centers © in the nation.